GREENSBORO, N.C. — Technology For The Future is giving away hundreds of free laptops this Saturday, March 16, 2019, as part of the group's OPEN Doors Challenge.
Adrian Martinca founded the Triad non-profit. He says the free event is all about making sure every student has equal access to technology.
"We want students to be able to create opportunity to be successful in life," said Martinca.
His solution is to give a free laptop to any student who needs one and it's easy to apply. All you have to do is head to technologyforthefuture.org and enter the OPEN Doors Challenge. Upload a video of the student explaining why they need it.
Though the community votes, every child gets a laptop.
"Through our challenge, we are inspiring and motivating our children to take action and do something where they'll help themselves achieve a brighter future," said Martinca.
Technology For The Future has given out several thousand laptops already with a goal to reach one million. The group will do it again on Saturday, March 16 with another 500 ready to go.
Martinca says he's seen laptops change lives.
"There was a family of 5 and the student was around 11 or 12-years-old. The family didn't have a computer because they thought it was out of reach," said Martinca. "Not only did the student get better grades but the mom was able to find a job, the brother was able to research the things he needed to do for school. And we saw the transformation with something as little as a laptop."
Technology For The Future offers laptops from vendors that are professionally refurbished and come with a warranty.
For those students who did not have an opportunity to enter the OPEN Doors Challenge, Technology For The Future will be giving away an additional 200 laptops to students on a first come, first serve basis on Saturday, March 16.
This is available to all K-12 students who did not have the opportunity to participate in the challenge. Every student that does not get a laptop will receive a special voucher to participate in the December 2019 OPEN Doors Challenge.
The giveaway will take place this Saturday, March 16, 2019, at the Greensboro Swarm Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum on West Gate City Boulevard.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at Noon.